One of our KnockOuts, Kandyce, wanted to share her story with you - she hopes it will help others struggling with similar issues.

I used to be bulimic. It all started when I was fourteen and still living with my parents. I walked downstairs in the middle of the afternoon to grab a bite to eat. My stepmom, while doing the dishes, turned and said, “Looks like the seam of your jeans is ripping?” Which was immediately followed by my father saying, “Yeah Kandyce, how much do you weigh now?” I couldn’t have been more than 110 pounds at the time but I didn’t say anything and ran up back up the stairs. Being daddy’s little girl, those words hurt, and that was the moment I decided to become bulimic.
I wanted to be perfect for my father. If he thought I was fat, then I was fat! I threw up everything I ate for a good three months. It was to the point where I wouldn’t even have to stick my finger down my throat to get the food to come up. When I tried to stop, I couldn’t. My throat was irritated and my face was always pale. My body was so used to throwing up everything, that I couldn’t get it to stop.
I finally went to my dad and told him I was sick and I couldn’t stop throwing up, but I left out the fact that I was intentionally throwing up in the beginning. He took me to a doctor who diagnosed me with the stomach flu. My body eventually learned to hold down food again and I never want to go through that again. You are who you are and should only care what you think-not what those around you think. We all come in different shapes and sizes and we are all beautiful, in our own unique way. Never forget that.

KnockOut  Kandyce